Authoritative Parenting is perhaps the best for parenting. It is a combination of both demandingness and responsiveness. These parents are friendly and more communicative while retaining enough authority and control. Expectations are high but so is the freedom of expression. Clear rules are set, and reasons behind them are explained.

Authoritative parents value independence which allows children to explore freely and develop self-reliance. Children of such parents have high self-esteem, achieve higher academic success and are socially skilled and proficient. They are also less prone to indulgent behaviors. Researchers have shown that the teens least prone to heavy drinking have parents who score high on both accountability and warmth.